Rob Green

Colin Graves, the chairman of the ECB, will be the Scarborough Cricket Club president for 2016, taking over from Sir Gary Verity.

The founder of Costcutter and former executive chairman of Yorkshire CCC was made chairman of the ECB in February before taking office in May.

In his first few months in charge, he has seen England win the Ashes, as well as a one-day series victory over World Cup finalists New Zealand, only months after a dismal World Cup campaign saw England crash out in the group stages.

Scarborough Cricket Club chairman Bill Mustoe said: “When I asked Colin if he would be our president for the 2016 season, he accepted straight away saying it was a great honour to be asked to take on the role.

“Colin becoming president of our club is a great coup for the town as well as the club.”

With the 2019 World Cupbeing hosted on our shores in what will be Graves’ fourth year as chairman of the ECB, the hopes of international cricket coming to Scarborough are beginning to pick up.

The last international game at North Marine Road was in 1978 and it has been mooted that international cricket is due a return to Scarborough and the naming of such a high-profile president can only strengthen any hopes.